FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The University of Saint Francis Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program has confirmed a partnership with Bowen Center to give USF students access to field experiences in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Through the partnership, all University of Saint Francis graduate students enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will complete their Practicum in Mental Health Counseling at Bowen Center, beginning in Fall 2018.
The USF Practicum in Mental Health Counseling requires 100 agency hours and a minimum of 40 hours of direct service with clients. After successful completion of their Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, students will be given the option of continuing at Bowen Center for their Internship and Advanced Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our graduate students working to become mental health counselors, as well as for the greater Fort Wayne community,” said Dr. Lance Richey, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Saint Francis. “We are pleased to partner with Bowen Center to provide a structured field experience that will equip our students to serve the needs of Fort Wayne and northeast Indiana, not only as they prepare to become counselors but as they grow and develop as skilled mental health professionals.”
“This is a great opportunity to make sure our students all share introductory experiences as they prepare for their clinical rotations. They will receive training in assessment, group, counseling, documentation and treatment planning. They will be able to support one another as they prepare to serve the community. They will be exposed to diverse populations and treatment modalities,” said Dr. Carl-Jylland Halverson, Professor of Psychology and Program Director for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at USF. “We are excited about our relationship with Bowen Center and the foundational training it will provide for our students as they prepare to serve their Internship and Advanced Internship rotations with agencies throughout the area.”
Bill Stephan, Director of Bowen Center in Fort Wayne, said, “I am very excited about this new partnership with the University of Saint Francis. This is a fantastic opportunity to build relationships and support in our community.”
About Bowen Center
Bowen Center is a community mental health and addiction recovery services organization serving northcentral and northeastern Indiana. Bowen Center’s mission is to positively impact the quality of life of those served by providing professional, caring, cost-effective behavioral healthcare services. Bowen Center services include outpatient therapy, groups, homebased skills coaching, medication services and much more.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the School of Health Sciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and School of Creative Arts. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. In 2016, the University of Saint Francis expanded its presence to downtown Fort Wayne. USF Downtown houses the university’s business and music technology programs while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis campus experience includes 16 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships, and is recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution. Approximately 2,300 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.